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Friday, December 21, 2012

{Guest Post} Save Our Space

If you find that space in your home is becoming a scarce resource, try these useful tips to maximize every nook and cranny in your home.
The reality of clutter season is becoming more inevitable with Christmas fast approaching. It's normal for space to become limited while all your holiday décor is on display, but if you are starting to worry that the clutter in your home won't disappear when the décor is put away, you may want to look into expanding or reorganizing your space. Here are a few suggestions, ranging from simple techniques to a full-on room renovation, on how to increase the amount of space in your home:

Increase Shelving
If clutter is not too much of a problem in your home, then some simple storage furniture for loose accessories should be sufficient. You may want to purchase a ready-made storage item that you can just hang in your closet or behind doors to keep everything in one place. Another possibility is to purchase shelves that you can place in the corners of your rooms. The most important thing to have is an organization strategy so that you'll be able to find everything easily. More often than not, it's the small knick-knacks that you see lying around your home that make you feel like you're walking in a disaster zone. Once you organize the little things, it will be easier to relax and remain comfortable in your home.

Custom Storage Installations
If you want a long-lasting storage solution for your home but don't want to invest in a full renovation, opt for custom-made storage installations. The benefits of hiring a contractor over purchasing a pre-fabricated storage unit are two-fold: you will be able to custom-fit your furniture to your home's style and architecture, and you'll also be able to tailor each shelf and drawer to hold a specific type of item.
The important thing to remember when designing your storage unit is to go vertical to conserve floor space. You may opt to design an entire work area in one corner or along one wall so that everything related to work will be properly organized. It will be up to you to decide whether you would like to have your built-in shelves covered with clear or frosted glass, or uncovered to display your collectibles or files. These custom storage pieces can also be multi-functional. For instance, you can design a covered bookshelf whose door can be adjusted to double as a work or study table.

Renovation
If you are willing to go the distance to create an amazing storage solution for your home but would like to maintain its refined architecture, then renovation is an excellent idea. You can have the walls fitted with floor-to-ceiling shelves complete with secret compartments to keep important items and documents hidden. You can design the walls to contain pull-out shelving as well, so that they can function both as room dividers and as storage space. You can even go to the extent of creating secret storage under your floorboards. Think of renovating your rooms to accommodate extra storage solutions as the marriage of functionality and elegant design.

Whichever method you choose to adopt in your home, the important thing to remember is that no matter how much storage space you have, it will all be filled up quickly if you do not learn to organize the clutter in your home. A simple labeling system can start you off in the right direction for organizing the clutter, but consistency on your part will always be the key to maintaining a clutter-free and relaxing living environment.

Jessica Phan is a designer for www.balsamhill.com, a leading provider of
high-end artificial Christmas trees. Cost conscious consumers and families that like to buy next year's Christmas supplies after this year's Christmas can explore artificial Christmas Trees on sale in their clearance section. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for Jessica because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.